Bio: Professor Osman Basaran is a Burton and Kathryn Gedge Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University. He received his undergraduate degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. Prof. Basaran’s research involves the use of a balanced approach based on computation, theory, and experiment to attack a number of fundamental issues that lie at the heart of such practical problems.

High-accuracy simulation of free surface flows near finite-time pinch-off and coalescence singularities

Motivated by applications such as ink jet printing, drop-by-drop manufacturing, sprays, emulsions, and chemical separations, we study the dynamics of breakup and coalescence through high-accuracy simulation, theory, and experiment.  In this talk, I will highlight our group’s work on accurately capturing the fluid dynamics that takes place in the vicinity of finite-time singularities. The free surface flow algorithms and solvers that we develop and use rely on a sharp interface representation of phase boundaries.  In the simulations, we are able to analyze situations that involve disparate length scales that differ by up to seven orders of magnitude (commercial codes can handle about 2-3 orders and custom codes can capture at most 3-4 orders of magnitude disparity in length scales). The primary focus of the talk will be on simulations of the breakup of surfactant-covered filaments where I will pay special attention to the pinch-off singularity.  I will also summarize some of our recent work on the pre- and post-coalescence singularities that arise when two drops or bubbles are driven together and made to merge into one.

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Applied & Interdisciplinary Mathematics program. Prof. Basaran is being hosted by Prof. Deegan (Physics). If you would like to meet with Prof. Basaran during his visit, please send an email to [email protected]. If you are an MICDE student or an AIM student and you’re interested in having lunch with Prof. Basaran during his visit, please RSVP by Thursday, February 20, 2020.